MP: Counting for Jhabua assembly bypoll starts

Counting of votes for Jhabua Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh began at 8 am on Thursday.

The counting is being held at the Polytechnic College campus in Jhabua district.

About 62 per cent voters exercised their franchise during the polling held on Monday for the seat, where the state's ruling Congress and opposition BJP are locked in a keen contest.

"The counting will be completed in 26 rounds amid tight security and under the surveillance of CCTV cameras," Jhabua Collector and Returning Officer Prabal Sipaha said.

While the main contestants are senior Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria and the BJP's Bhanu Bhuria, who is making his electoral debut, three independents -- Kalyan Singh Damor, Neelesh Damor and Rameshwar Singhar -- are also in the fray.

In the Assembly polls held last year, G S Damor of the BJP defeated Vikrant Bhuria of the Congress